We are brothers

Ten days into his Pontificate, Pope Francis visited this afternoon with his venerable predecessor.  Since there has not been a resignation of a pope in more than 600 years, this is indeed a first for most of us.

The Holy Father arrived at the heleport of Castel Gandalfo, accompanied by the Substitute for the Vatican Secretariat of State, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Monsignor Sapienza and Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, around 12:15 local time, and there he was greeted warmly by Pope emeritus Benedict.

The Pontiff emeritus wore the white cassock and the now famous white jacket, but did not wear the moiré sash or the manteletta (the shoulder cape), thereby distinguishing by his dress, the difference between himself and his successor.

After briefly greeting the Bishop of Albano and the Director of the Pontifical Villas, the two Popes got into the waiting car, Pope Francis on the right - the place of honour reserved for the Pope - and the Pope emeritus on the left.  Archbishop Georg Ganswein travelled with the two popes to the Apostolic palace where they then entered the elevator together and ascended to the apartments.  The first order of business was a stop in the chapel where they shared a moment of prayerful reflection.  When Benedict XVI tried to offer the place reserved for the Pope to Francis, the latter responded we are brothers, so the two of them knelt together in prayer.

Following their time of recollection, Benedict and Francis then moved into the library (the place where important visitors to Castel Gandolfo traditionally meet with the Holy Father when he is in residence), where they then spent about 45 minutes in private conversation.  The two have had previous exchanges on the telephone, but this was their first face-to-face meeting since Pope Francis was elected to the See of Peter.

Pope Francis presented a beautiful icon to his predecessor as a gift to mark the occasion.  Following their meeting in the libary, they shared a meal together, accompanied by the two secretaries, Archbishop Ganswein and Monsignor Xuereb before the Pope emeritus accompanied his successor to the heleport where he boarded the helecopter for the return flight to Vatican City.

It is expected that Pope emeritus Benedict XVI will remain at Castel Gandolfo for now, and will move into the Mater Ecclesiae monastery on the grounds of Vatican City once the renovations currently in progress are complete.  Pope Francis will also move into the Papal Apartments once his accommodations have been prepared.